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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the training and hiring of peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.2551 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.2551. BASIC PEACE OFFICER TRAINING COURSE. The |
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basic peace officer training course required as part of a peace |
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officer training program under Section 1701.251(a) may be no less |
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than 720 hours. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.269 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.269. TRAINING PROGRAM AND POLICIES FOR FIELD |
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TRAINING OFFICERS. The commission shall develop and maintain a |
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model training curriculum and model policies for peace officers who |
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conduct field training. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows: |
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(a-2) Before the first day of each 24 month training unit |
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during which peace officers are required to complete 40 hours of |
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continuing education programs under Subsection (a), the commission |
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shall specify the mandated topics to be covered in up to 16 of the |
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required hours. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter J, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.459 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.459. MODEL POLICY ON PREEMPLOYMENT |
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INVESTIGATIONS. The commission shall develop and make available to |
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all law enforcement agencies in this state a model policy for the |
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preemployment investigation of a person licensed under this |
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chapter. The model policy must incorporate: |
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(1) the duties and responsibilities of a law |
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enforcement agency or governmental entity under Section 1701.303; |
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(2) the request, analysis, and use of any employment |
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termination report or criminal background check information |
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obtained under Section 1701.451; and |
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(3) any other information the commission considers |
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necessary to conduct a preemployment investigation of a person. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall modify the curriculum of the |
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basic peace officer training course as necessary to comply with |
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Section 1701.2551, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) The minimum hour requirement for the basic peace officer |
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training course under Section 1701.2551, Occupations Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a person who first begins the course on |
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or after July 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 6. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop and make available the |
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model training curriculum and model policies required by Sections |
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1701.269 and 1701.459, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 7. Section 1701.351(a-2), Occupations Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a training unit that begins on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |